Abused puppies rescued from rail tracks

By Kristen V. Brown

Updated 9:41 pm, Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale

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A three-week-old pit bull puppy, one of three, found mutilated and abandoned in Albany and now at the Mohawk Hudson Animal Shelter in Menands Tuesday Sept. 11, 2012. Smaller and weaker than the others, this puppy may not survive. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) less

A three-week-old pit bull puppy, one of three, found mutilated and abandoned in Albany and now at the Mohawk Hudson Animal Shelter in Menands Tuesday Sept. 11, 2012. Smaller and weaker than the others, this ... more

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale

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A three-week-old pit bull puppy with its left rear paw cut off, one of three puppies all mutilated in the same area rescued in Albany and now at the Mohawk Hudson Animal Shelter in Menands Tuesday Sept. 11, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union) less

A three-week-old pit bull puppy with its left rear paw cut off, one of three puppies all mutilated in the same area rescued in Albany and now at the Mohawk Hudson Animal Shelter in Menands Tuesday Sept. 11, ... more

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale

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Two of the three pit bull puppies found mutilated and abandoned in Albany and now at the Mohawk Hudson Animal Shelter in Menands Tuesday Sept. 11, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

Two of the three pit bull puppies found mutilated and abandoned in Albany and now at the Mohawk Hudson Animal Shelter in Menands Tuesday Sept. 11, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale

Image 4 of 4

Two of the three pit bull puppies found mutilated and abandoned in Albany and now at the Mohawk Hudson Animal Shelter in Menands Tuesday Sept. 11, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

Two of the three pit bull puppies found mutilated and abandoned in Albany and now at the Mohawk Hudson Animal Shelter in Menands Tuesday Sept. 11, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

Photo: John Carl D'Annibale

Abused puppies rescued from rail tracks

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ALBANY — Three injured pit bull puppies found by Albany railroad workers may have been intentionally nailed to the tracks in a "heartless" act of animal cruelty, according to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.

The three-week-old pups were found Saturday by workers on the tracks at North Pearl Street just north of the Ida Yarborough Apartments. All three had apparently deliberate injuries to their back left paws and had been stranded there for up to two days without food or water, the Menands shelter's executive director said.

"It's very clear that it's a cruelty case," said Brad Shear. "This is someone who intentionally did really serious harm to these puppies. Someone that can do is a very scary person. To do this you have to be heartless."

The rail workers told shelter officials they found two pups — one missing a paw, the other without its middle two toes — and then a third puppy, which had a hole in one of its paws and was unable to move.

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All three dogs were dehydrated, malnourished, hypoglycemic and suffering from infection when they arrived at the shelter, said veterinarian Sarah Madaio. Two are recovering, but the third died Tuesday afternoon after being kept on an IV and given CPR.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, "pit bull-type dogs" are among the most commonly abused animals. In 2000-01, pit bulls accounted for 13 percent of reported dog-abuse cases. By 2007, the most recent year for which figures are available, the number had climbed to 25 percent.

"If we see an animal that's significantly abused, often times it's a pit bull," said Madaio, the veterinarian who also examined those dogs.

Such severe neglect is rare, although the Times Union has recently reported on several local cases of dog abuse.

In February, a dog bound with duct tape was left to die on the side of an Argyle road. Last week, its owner was sentenced to 60 days in jail. In January, a 10-month-old great dane was tied to a tree behind Schenectady County Community College in freezing temperatures. Both dogs survived.

The two remaining pit bull puppies are expected to recover, though one will likely lose its leg. Both will be available for adoption as soon as they recuperate.